TALE OF THE TAPE

New Jersey Vs. New York: Who Really ‘Owns’ Super Bowl XLVIII?

Quick: what’s the best football team in New York? If you picked the Jets or the Giants, you’re wrong. They both play in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The answer is the Buffalo Bills. They’re the only team that actually plays in New York. Why those two teams aren’t called the New Jersey Jets or the New Jersey Giants is beyond me. As you can imagine, it’s the cause for some confusion.

Of course, with the Super Bowl coming to town, it’s cause for some friction between the states. But we wonder, who does this Super Bowl really belong to – New York or New Jersey? Let’s go to the tape…

New Jersey

New York

MetLife Stadium stands behind a Super Bowl sign as the venue is prepared to host Super Bowl XLVIII between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks January 27, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

(credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Actual Location Of The Stadium?

Winner
Here.

Not Here.

Name of the teams that play there?

Not New Jersey.

Winner
New York!

Which city will get the most financial benefit?

Newark will get plenty of flights, and nearby bars and restaurants will do just fine.

Winner
But visitors from out of town will probably flock to Manhattan, not East Rutherford.

Where will the celebrities hobnob?

Only the finest upscale clubs in East Rutherford (hah).

Winner
Any number of pretentious clubs in this glitzy, awful borough (Manhattan). Fox Sports is already taking over Times Square.

Program design?

Recently, Jersey politicians have been lamenting that the Super Bowl programs haven’t been doing justice to the game’s host state.

Winner
Showcases New York.

The Winner Is

WinnerNew York

4 out of 5

Although I’m actually sympathetic to New Jersey in this scenario since they’re totally getting “older brothered,” but the tape doesn’t lie. New York wins this one 4-1. Enjoy the game, everyone!
-Brian Cullen, CBS Local Sports contributor